There's a sad truth to Aaron Judge's elbow injury for Yankees

Aaron Judge's pursuit of a .400 batting average has fallen by the wayside, but it doesn't change a simple fact:

The New York Yankees superstar has been putting together one of the best hitting seasons ever by a right-handed batter.

It's an extension of last season, really, when Judge put up a 223 OPS+ (making him 123% better than the league average hitter).

And now, Judge is hurt. And that plain stinks.

Popular baseball analyst Jared Carrabis summed it up with this message on X:

"I am going to be very bummed if the Aaron Judge injury is significant. I know it’s become routine for him, but he’s having one of the best offensive seasons we’ve been alive for and I’d really like to see him finish it."

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This could've been worse for the Yankees. Reports have indicated that Judge's UCL in his right elbow is intact.

But the flexor strain is a tricky one, because depending on the severity, it could still keep Judge out for a while. If the Yankees rush him back, it puts the elbow at further risk.

And that could mean Judge doesn't have the chance to polish off a magnificent campaign, at least in full.

The Yankees surely would take getting him healthy in time for a playoff run.

But for the sake of baseball history, hopefully Judge is back and swinging like himself sooner rather than later.

At the time of the injury, Judge has a 218 OPS+, just off last season's pace after a cold spell.

At 33 years old, there's no guarantee Judge is this legendary forever. Right now, he's in the argument for greatest righty hitter ever with the likes of Josh Gibson, Jimmie Foxx, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera.

Baseball, as a whole, deserves Judge on the field, healthy and hitting.

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